Did Deepika land Rana by default?

K S Ravikumar’s Rana continues to make headlines though work is currently at a standstill because of superstar Rajinikanth’s ill-health.
We have access to information that says Sonakshi Sinha was to be the filmmaker’s original choice for the role that Deepika Padukone landed. So why was Sona replaced by Dippy? Our source reminds us of the fact that Rajinikanth and Shatrughan Sinha are very close friends.
In fact, the two actors who acted Asli Naqli in 1986, have constantly been in touch with each other. And even their families are known to one another. Says our source, “Naturally Rajinikanth’s family was not keen that the superstar romances Sonakshi ,who is an old family friend’s daughter.
So the idea to cast Sonakshi was nixed even before it became public and Deepika landed the role.